Aug 26, 2006

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said it is up to the Kubang Pasu Umno division to determine the position of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who has expressed his intention to be a delegate and speak at the party's general assembly in November.

"The Umno Supreme Council (SC) is of the view that Tun Dr Mahathir has the right to become a candidate for election as a delegate to the forthcoming Umno assembly.

"However, it's up to the Kubang Pasu Umno to decide," he told reporters after chairing the Supreme Council meeting at the Umno headquarters, here late Friday night.

When asked whether the SC would have any problem when Tun attends the assembly, Abdullah who is also the Prime Minister said: "This is a matter for the State Liaison (Body) to decide in accordance with established practice for so many years."

When asked what he meant by established practice, he said: "He (Mahathir) is eligible to be considered (to attend the party's assembly as a delegate) but we leave it to the State Liaison (body) to decide."

When asked whether the general assembly would be an appropriate platform for Dr Mahathir to speak, Abdullah said: "Don't ask me that. You have to ask him."

"We don't hold the meeting to give an opportunity to any particular person. It is the respective (state) liaison body that decides on who will speak," he said.

When asked if he would have any problem if Dr Mahathir were to attend the general assembly in view of the fact that the former prime minister had been very critical of the present government, Abdullah said he had no problem with that.

"If he is coming why should I have a problem? I have my duty, I'll do whatever I can, I'll do whatever I am supposed to do," he said.

He also dismissed any notion that there was hostility between him and his predecessor, adding in jest that something was wrong with the people who assumed that.

"Whenever I meet him (Mahathir), I never fail to shake hands with him," he said.

Earlier, Abdullah said the divisional Umno meetings were progressing smoothly so far and based on reports from the meetings, all the divisions had expressed solid support for the present party leadership.-- BERNAMA